Phone Pics

We went to the Zoo last week on one of our fabulously warm weather February days.  Tank Top and Flip-flops were in order.  It was gorgeous and the animals were out and basking in the sun!  So Thankful for days like this and for great friends who hung out with us all day!

 Tigers...

 

 ...Lions...

 ...and Bears, Oh my!

 Ryder with his Girls.  They are all in Preschool together.

 Rustin and the Penguins.

 Doing a little Goat Grooming.

 Rode a few Alligators (or Crocodiles...I'm not sure I know the difference).

 Pushed a few Buttons.

 

Dug in the Sand.

 

 Called the Cheetahs.  

 Rode the Train.

 And Finally...talked to the Baby Monkey.

She LOVED Rustin and he thought she was "Sooooo Cute!  Look at her, Mommy!".

In the Kitchen

These two took over the kitchen this morning and made a three layer carrot cake to celebrate my Mother-In-Laws Birthday!  Happy Birthday to one very special lady!

Lent

Most days there is a movie playing in my car.  When we purchased a vehicle that had a DVD player in it, I told Matt that we wouldn't use it.  I was wrong.  We use it a lot...way more than I'd like.  My sister told me that she was talking with one of the teachers at my niece's preschool one afternoon.  She mentioned how sad and shocked she was by the number of parents who pick their kids up from school and never talk to them. The cell phone is on their ear and the movie is playing in the back.  I blinked.  I'm not going to lie...she painted a picture of me.

This morning I made a point to tell the boys we were listening to music and not a movie.  I had thought about it being Ash Wednesday and the first day of Lent...I had contemplated what I would give up and what I would take on.  I wouldn't be telling the truth if I said I hadn't thought about giving something up that didn't mean much to me.  At that moment, the Christian radio show we were listening to, started discussing giving things up for Lent.  They spoke of the importance and symbolism of why we "give something up".  Jesus GAVE HIS LIFE up for us.  If He could give His Life, we can surely sacrifice a thing or two for the 46 days leading to Easter.

So after much thought and prayer, I have a plan. For the "Give Ups":   I'm staying away from Facebook.  When I opened up my browser to type this post, my fingers immediately typed "FA" in the address bar.  I never thought so, but I am quite possibly addicted. Not just to FB, but to my phone.  I check it all of the time. Starting today, I'm not using my phone in the car.  Outside of the preschool calling me about one of the boys, there is no other call/email/text, that can't wait to be returned until I reach my destination.  Finally...no more fast food.  We drive through a lot.   Its easy.   It may sound silly, but it'll be a sacrifice for me.

For the "Take On":  I want to spend more time with God....more one on one time through prayer.  I want to take five minutes out of my day to read the Passion in my Bible.  I want to be a better wife, mom, daughter and friend.  I want to talk with the boys about their day and His presence in their day.  At dinner tonight I went through a series of questions with them..what was their favorite part of the day, the favorite food they ate, the best thing someone said to them, and what they were most thankful for.  Simultaneously they both responded with "God".  I got a chill...the Holy Spirit is awesome. 

I hope you all embrace the Lenten season...sacrifice and take on friends.

Spring

Temperatures are on the rise and the grass is starting to turn green here in North Texas.   New Life is everywhere around us...God's beautiful way of reminding us what Easter brings.

We checked out the Spring Line in Target today.  This hat came home with us.  He thinks it makes him look like Ken.  You know the Mattel doll featured in the Toy Story movies.  He is pretty sure that Barbie thinks he's handsome when he is wearing it.  Not kidding.  Love him like crazy!

Peanut Butter Pie

Because some days you just need a piece of something sinful...Peanut Butter Pie. 

 Because some days just aren't your day.  Because some days you get a bite taken out of your hand at school for no good reason.  A big forkful of pie surely makes everything better...and it did.

Grab somebody you love and make one of these. It's not for the calorie conscious, but it will make you feel warm and fuzzy inside.  Here's what you'll need:

Almost No-Bake Peanut Butter Pie – serves 8-10 – from a recipe found on AllRecipes.com

• 1 1/4 cups chocolate cookie crumbs
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• Extra whipped cream and chopped peanuts, for garnish, optional

Directions
- Combine 1 1/4 cup cookie crumbs, 1/4 cup sugar, and 1/4 cup butter or margarine; press into a 9 inch pie plate. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 10 minutes. Cool.

- In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, peanut butter, sugar, butter, and vanilla until smooth. Whip the cream, and fold into the peanut butter mixture.

-  Gently spoon filing into crust. Refrigerate. Top with whipped cream and chopped peanuts for garnish. Serve immediately.

Last Minute Valentine Treats for Kids

By now...y'all know that I am a last minute kind of girl.  Here are a few last minute Valentine's treats that you can put together before tomorrow! 


1.  Make some Cereal Box Valentines Day treats.  I bought a package of the small variety cereals at Wal-Mart.  Grab a paper sack out of the pantry (or ask for paper instead of plastic when you buy the cereal) and cut out rectangles that measure 10" x 4.75". 

Print out a few sayings on white printer paper that go along with each cereal box.  I cut these out to be 10" x 2.75".

Grab a Glue stick and put glue all over the cereal box and then apply your labels.  Put the brown paper label on first.  Next center your white label over the brown paper wrapper.  Embellish it with some string or ribbon and you're done!

2.  Dip some Jumbo Marshmallows in Chocolate & Sprinkles.

I always melt my Chocolate in the Microwave.  I'm not even sure what a double-boiler looks like and the Microwave never does me wrong.  Heat the chocolate at 50% power and stir every 30 seconds until melted and smooth.  Put a stick through your marshmallow and dip in chocolate.  Next...douse it with sprinkles!  I put a bowl underneath to catch the excess sprinkles and any dripping chocolate.   I'm messy in the kitchen...really messy.

 The boys had the scraps as a snack.We live in a health conscious house...remember? Oh and yes....those are Scooby PJ's...no he didn't take them off that day.  The scraps weren't for breakfast...promise.   Please don't judge me.   

  

3.  Grab a Water Bottle and Tie a Kool-aid Single to it. I removed the labels from the bottles.  Next, cut out strips of pink wrapping paper and  use a glue stick to attach it to the bottle where the label was previously.  Punch a hole through the top of the Kool-aid single and thread some ribbon or tulle through it.  Embellish it with a heart cut out or a little more tulle and you are done!

 4.  These Robot Snacks are Simple and the Boys LOVED them! 

I used Glue Dots to attach everything.  The feet are mini-raisin boxes.   The head is an upside down applesauce container with googly eyes.  I used some left over hershey kisses as the helmet and wrapped some pretzel rods in foil for the arms.  Any juice box will make the body!

5.  When all else fails...head to Wal-Mart.  It's no secret that it is my least favorite place on Earth...but they have these.

 

For LESS than $6.00!  Cha-Ching!  Happy Valentine's Day!

Tasty T̶u̶e̶s̶d̶a̶y̶ Thursday- Mini Pizza Cups

I had these little pieces of deliciousness baked and ready to go on the Blog for Tasty Tuesday, but sickness took over our house.  Rustin was sick, then it nabbed me and finally Matt.  We're still not fully recovered, but definitely better than the beginning of the week.  It was survival of the fittest.  The boys went to school on Wednesday dressed...well dressed. Rustin has eaten M&M's for dinner every night this week and I'm o.k. with that.

Those of you who know me very well, are aware that saying my kids are picky eaters is an understatement.  Ryder basically eats pizza, pizza and pizza.  I've tried it all.  We've cleaned up messes at the dinner table, after gagging himself, on food we that we insisted he try just a single bite of.  I won't do it anymore.  He eats what he eats.  I quit cooking different things for him, but some weeks (especially when Matt works late and its just the three of us), I just cook pizza.

I've made pizza rolls, pizza on a stick, pizza sandwiches...any way you can do pizza...I've done it.  I made these last week and LOVED them.  They are perfect for a quick appetizer. Since there is a certain big game on Sunday, I thought this would be a good time to share.  Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:
1 Tube of Refrigerated Biscuit Dough ( I use the Buttermilk Biscuits that come in a 4-pack at the Grocery Store)
Pizza Sauce (The Squirt Bottle kind is Perfect)
1 Cup Shredded Part-skim Mozzarella Cheese
Any toppings (Diced Pepper, Diced Onion, Olives, Pepperoni, or anything else that tickles your fancy)
Mini-Muffin Pan

Directions:
Preheat Oven to 375 Degrees.  Spray your pan liberally with cooking spray.  Separate each biscuit in half and press into the bottom and up the sides of miniature muffin cups.  Squirt sauce onto each biscuit.  Sprinkle with Toppings and Cheese.  Bake for 15 minutes or until the crusts are brown and cheese is melted.  Enjoy!